ROBERTO Di Matteo has hit out at the ‘useless’ timing of this week’s friendly internationals – hoping his players return unscathed before Saturday’s game against Stoke.

The Baggies have half-a-dozen away with their countries.

Somen Tchoyi is training with the Cameroon national side, with the other five – Chris Brunt, Gabriel Tamas, Roman Bednar, Paul Scharner and Gonzalo Jara – all facing potential games and returns tomorrow or Friday.

All of the fixtures involving Albion’s players are taking place tonight rather than the new Tuesday slot that has been allocated for international qualifiers.

The Italian hopes the respective football associations and national coaches will use common sense.

Di Matteo told the Birmingham Mail: “This week is useless. They’re friendlies where most of the regulars are unable to play because they are in the full swing of the season and they have some little injuries and have just played four games in 12 days.

“There have been a lot of games in the last two weeks, we have a busy period coming up.

“I don’t know what they’re getting out of it.

“Maybe they can look at some other players but this one makes no sense.

“I can understand qualifiers but this one is like the one in August before the season started, which was also inconvenient.

“We are always in touch with the FAs to try and make them understand.

“Some of them are good and understanding.

“Players are going to represent their country, which is the ultimate achievement – we understand that but if they can at least limit their minutes on the pitch to 45 or something then we try and work that out.”

Perhaps of biggest concern is Jara, who has now completed a three-game ban for Albion, and is on duty with Chile ahead of their Santiago friendly with Uruguay.

He will not be back in England until Friday at the very earliest, which means he will miss most of the training drills ahead of Saturday’s visit of Tony Pulis’ men.

Di Matteo, who must decide whether to keep faith with Steven Reid or recall Jara, added: “Gonzo is available again but he’ll only be back on Friday morning from a long trip.

“It is a little bit of a worry but he did it quite a lot last season.”